THE PRESIDENT IS DOING HARM TO HIS REPUTATION AS A GREAT LEADER

Apr 22, 2011 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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The scandalous and unfounded attacks hurled by the President of Guyana against the publisher and editor of this newspaper have reflected adversely on the presidency. It remains a mystery why a sitting president would belittle himself by making wild accusations more befitting of a cuss-bird.
Even more strange is that these statements came just months before the president leaves office – at a time when he should be more concerned about his legacy.
The President accused the publisher of this newspaper of being involved in backtracking activities.
And he sought to impugn the credentials of the editor by suggesting that since he was formerly the editor of the New Nation, he had an agenda against the government.
The publisher of the Kaieteur News was accused of having his visa taken away, even though it is well known that the publisher is a permanent resident of the United States and in fact, only just returned from that country.
Adam Harris’s past editorship of the New Nation was dug up to this newspaper as associating with someone whose past was linked to the main opposition.
The President of course needs no reminder that there were persons whom his party considered to be far more extreme and divisive than Adam, and whom they have pitchforked to high positions within the administration.
But the past associations of those persons are not seen as indicative of any biases on their part.
If the statements about the publisher and editor of this newspaper were made by someone lacking class and sophistication, it may have been understandable.
But to think that someone with the qualities of President Jagdeo would descend to such levels is shocking and outrageous. No president of any country should be so foul-mouthed. Better is to be expected and better should be demanded.
Bharrat Jagdeo is by far the most popular president this country has ever had, and without doubt, the one with the greatest public appeal across all races.
He should use that standing to say positive things about others rather than besmirching the reputations of those with whom he has grouses.
Just over a month ago, the presidential candidate of the PNCR was at the receiving end of the President’s tongue.
The President accused that gentleman of some unprintable acts. Not a shred of evidence was produced to link that poor man to what was said about him.
Not satisfied with attacking Mr. Granger, the President, again in front of a partisan audience went on another “buse out” against this newspaper, making unfounded allegations against individuals with whom he once shared close friendships, one of whom he once said was good for Guyana.
It was a sad sight to see the depths to which our good President descended; to see how easy it is for someone with presidential immunity to attempt to destroy the characters of others without a scintilla of evidence.
If he were not the President of Guyana, one may have excused such an off-handed approach and passed it off as just a bad moment. If the President were with some of his private friends, gossiping, one may have also excused such remarks.
But for a President of a country to take to a public platform and to make such statements publicly not makes only him look bad, but also makes Guyana look terrible, since persons may want to know how a country could elect someone who behaves like that to high office. Can you imagine Barack Obama making such statements about someone he does not appreciate? That would never happen.
Fortunately, our President only has a few more months before constitutionally he makes way for a successor.
After the general elections of this year, President Bharrat Jagdeo will become a private citizen.
The power will no longer be there and with it will also fade the attention. In just a few months’ time, the President of Guyana will be out of the limelight, and perhaps then he may have more time to reflect on some of the unpleasant and unfounded things he has said about others, using his presidential prerogative.
When he retires to his estate at Sparendaam, to the loneliness that often accompanies the loss of power, he will have sufficient time to reflect on his loose tongue and the terrible harm that it inflicted because he could not restrain himself.
But he should now also consider his future and to prepare himself to leave office with his good name intact.
He should not desire to be remembered as a president who sought to destroy the reputations of others through unfounded allegations.
He is still a young man, still perhaps very much inexperienced, and obviously with a great deal to learn about life, including a great deal to learn about becoming a private citizen.
He has not been a private citizen for eighteen years.
When he leaves the presidency, a new life will begin for him. He will have no presidential immunity to say as he pleases.
Why would he in his final year want to be seen as someone who will be remembered for the sharpness of his tongue rather than for being the great leader for which he deserves to be remembered?

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